The party leader was in a bullish mood as he described Kent as “the heart of Ukip”

Suggestions Ukip could suffer an “absolute wipeout” of its seats on Kent County Council next month have been laughed off by the party’s leader.

Paul Nuttall was on the campaign trail in Margate on Tuesday ahead of the local elections on May 4, as Ukip licks its wounds from the latest in a string of controversies.

Former Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless defected from the party last week, in a move which led Conservative MP for South Thanet, Craig Mackinlay, to predict its representation on KCC to be completely blitzed.

Ukip won 17 seats on the council last year but after seeing three party leaders since the EU referendum, an alleged punch-up between MEPs and a number of high-profile defections, its future as a political force has been written off by many.

However, when Kent News sat down with Mr Nuttall this week, the MEP was in a bullish mood and insisted his party still had the ability to spring a surprise.

“Just because the leader has a northern accent, doesn’t mean we’re turning our back on the south - this is the heart of Ukip,” he said.

“We’re standing on a good platform of direct democracy, which I think attracts people, particularly post-referendum.

“The fact our councillors are not whipped also plays into our hands because people can be confident that if you elect a Ukip councillor they will stand up for the community above party.

“Our Kent county councillors have prevented town hall fat cats from being paid over £200,000 a year, they have campaigned against building on green belt, campaigned against zero hour contracts - it lines us up for a good campaign.

“I know for a fact from being out with them, they’re getting a good reception on doorsteps.

“The pledges are coming in, it doesn’t seem as if the voters are drifting away, so we’re quite confident we’re going to deliver a decent performance.”